CHRISTMAS may have been and gone, but Manchester United could be set to receive their best present yet after Sir Alex Ferguson hinted he may change his mind about retiring....

CHRISTMAS may have been and gone, but Manchester United could be set to receive their best present yet after Sir Alex Ferguson hinted he may change his mind about retiring.

Ferguson has steadfastly maintained for the last two-and-a-half years that he will stand down as manager when his contract expires at the end of this season.

That has been his position since he agreed his current three-year deal way back in May 1999.

Despite attempts by the United board, players and fans to make him change his mind, he has always said he will go.

Now, though, his resolve would appear to be weakening after he admitted he may have a rethink as he nears the end.

He told the News of the World: "At the moment my mind is made up about retiring at the end of the season.

"Is there any possibility of me changing my mind? I don't think so, but you never know what might happen.

"The club are looking for my successor, but when the thing comes, nearer the time, who knows what will happen? But at the moment my mind is fixed on retiring."

This softening in Ferguson's stance will give fresh hope to United chief executive Peter Kenyon that he may yet persuade him to stay.

It has quickly become clear to Kenyon that replacing Ferguson is going to be nigh-on impossible.

United's reported number one target, Sven-Goran Eriksson, claims he will not walk out on England, while the other leading contenders - Ottmar Hitzfeld, David O'Leary, Marcello Lippi and Arsene Wenger - have all ruled themselves out of the running.

Kenyon may be coming to the conclusion that the only man to replace Ferguson is Ferguson.

Ferguson, whose salary was increased to around #2million this season, could virtually name his price to stay on and could expect at least to match Wenger's new #2.5m-a-year contract at Arsenal.

Ferguson, who turns 60 tomorrow, certainly still retains the necessary drive and hunger to carry on.

Football has been his focus for near enough his entire life and perhaps the thought of giving it all up is too much.

Bill Shankly's widow Nessie always said he died not in 1981, but in 1974 when he stepped down as Liverpool manager when he was 60.

Ferguson is of a similar ilk to Shankly - and now age - and perhaps he may be thinking the same.

He is due to remain at Old Trafford in an ambassadorial role, but that may not be enough to satisfy his craving for the game.

He would also want to leave United on a high by winning the Premiership or the Champions League rather than the anti-climax of a barren season, and this may be colouring his thinking.

Of course, Ferguson may just be indulging in yet more mind games. The suggestion that he may stay will lift his players as they prepare for the second half of the campaign and what will be one of their stiffest challenges yet.

It could also tip the balance in United's favour in David Beckham's contract talks and the England captain has gone on record saying he would like to know who is going to be the Reds manager next season.

Ferguson may also have his eyes on a new general manager's role at Old Trafford and recently said United should have two-tiers of management in the future.

He may even be sending a coded message to Irish millionaires JP McManus and John Magnier that he would be their manager if they launch a takeover bid for United.

Whatever his thinking, no United fan would be against Ferguson staying on, and for them that would be the result of the season.